Soeharto medical check delayed<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State prosecutors announced on Wednesday they had indefinitely
\npostponed their order that former president Soeharto submit to a
\nmedical examination to determine whether his graft trial could
\nresume.<\/p>\n
The head of the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, Purwanto,
\nalso said a planned visit to ascertain visually whether
\nSoeharto's health had improved had been postponed, because most
\nof the former ruler's lawyers were concentrating on the murder
\ntrial of Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra.<\/p>\n
Both father and son use most of the same lawyers.<\/p>\n
The spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Barman Zahir,
\nhad said that a physical examination of corruption suspect
\nSoeharto would be conducted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
This followed media reports that the former president appeared
\nto be in improved health when he recently attended the wedding
\nreception of his granddaughter, Danti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
Though legal proceedings were begun against Soeharto, the
\nformer president never appeared in court because of what his
\nlawyers claimed was poor health.<\/p>\n
A medical team from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital told the court
\nin October 1999 that Soeharto was physically unfit to be tried,
\nand that his health was not expected to improve.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court, in 2000, ordered the court to suspend the
\nlegal proceedings against Soeharto, and the Attorney General's
\nOffice to cover the medical costs of the defendant until he was
\nhealthy enough for the trial to resume.<\/p>\n
Purwanto said he and his staff would meet on Thursday to
\ndiscuss their next step in the case.<\/p>\n
Separately, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan approved
\nplans to resume the Soeharto trial.<\/p>\n
\"It is fine to reopen the trial because the Supreme Court
\nnever declared the case closed. If (Soeharto) is considered fit
\nenough to stand trial, go ahead,\" Bagir said after swearing in
\nnew People's Consultative Assembly deputy speaker Cholil Bisri on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Bagir said people should give thanks if reports of Soeharto's
\nimproved health were true.<\/p>\n
But Bagir, who issued the Supreme Court ruling suspending
\nSoeharto's trial in 2000, insisted that the reports of Soeharto's
\nrecovery had to be verified by a government-appointed team of
\ndoctors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-medical-check-delayed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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